2026 Budget: Malaysians hope for better hospitals, more affordable homes

SHAH ALAM – For many families, relief is not just about cheaper petrol. It is also about making healthcare and housing more affordable and less burdensome.

Technician Muhammad Muammar Gaddafi, 35, said the financial strain of securing a home remained one of the biggest hurdles for ordinary Malaysians.

“Housing is still expensive, especially for younger married couples or those trying to upgrade from renting.

“Affordable housing schemes should be more accessible, with simpler requirements,” he said.

He added that improvements to public hospitals and clinics would also greatly benefit Malaysians.

He said sometimes people have to wait a long time and families ended up going to private clinics and paying more.

“If the government invests more in healthcare facilities and staffing, I’m sure it would reduce financial stress,” he said.

Economist and policy specialist Dr Geoffrey Williams said healthcare, housing, education and broader social spending should be at the centre of the 2026 Budget.

He noted that Malaysia had already made significant progress in addressing wastage, which strengthened the government’s financial position.

“Although the fiscal position is tight, a great deal of progress has been made in cutting wastage, leakages and corruption.

“The fiscal position is sound, so now is the time to focus on the benefits of that,” he said.

Similarly, Universiti Teknologi MARA senior lecturer from the Department of Economics and Financial Studies Dr Mohamad Idham Md Razak said healthcare and housing remained key drivers of economic resilience.

He said increased investment in primary healthcare and mental health services reduced long-term public health costs and boosted workforce productivity.

He also noted that affordable public housing, especially near employment hubs, helped lower living expenses and stimulated local economies.

Idham added that broader social protection including childcare support and unemployment insurance helped stabilise consumption during downturns and narrowed inequality, creating a more inclusive growth model.

With the 2026 Budget set to be tabled on Oct 10, Malaysians are hopeful that the government will focus on strengthening healthcare facilities, improving access to affordable homes and expanding social safety nets.